Pin and socket removal tool

ABSTRACT

A HAND TOOL HAVING A SLENDER PIN-SIZED PLUNGER EXTENDING THROUGH A HOLLOW SLIDE WITH A SOCKET-SIZED FERRULE. COIL SPRINGS BIAS AGAINST TRAVEL OF THE SLIDE BETWEEN EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PLUNGER, THE EXTENDED POSITION MAY BE LOCKED BY ROTATION OF THE SLIDE TO ENGAGE A BAYONET PIN WITIN A RETAINING J-SLOT. PIN REMOVAL IS BY RECEPTION OF A PIN IN THE FERRULE AT THE EXTENDED POSITION AND PUSHING OUTWARD AGAINST THE PIN SHOULDER. SOCKET REMOVAL IS BY RELEASE OF THE EXTENDED POSITION AND INSERTION OF THE PLUNGER FOR PUSHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCKET, THE FERRULE RETRACTING ALONG THE PLUNGER AND PROVIDING PROTECTION AND COMPRESSIVE BRACING THEREOF.

Dec. 7, 1971 w. HILBERT 3,624,887

PIN AND SOCKET REMOVAL TOOL Filed March 2, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1

INVENTOR Wolfgang Hilbert 7, 1971 w. HILBERT PIN AND SOCKET REMOVAL TOOL2 Sheets-Shoot 1) Filed \larch 2, 19'70 l l lm HIIIII.

lll-Qll'lllllll!) I R4! 0w Mm Em V N g n m 0 W United States Patent()ifice 3,624,887 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 3,624,887 PIN AND SOCKET REMOVALTOOL Wolfgang Hilbert, Holzkirchen, Germany, assignor to The Bunker-RamoCorporation, Oak Brook, Ill. Filed Mar. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 15,382 Int.Cl. B23p 19/00; B25b 27/02; H01r 3/00 US. Cl. 29-203 H 12 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand tool having a slender pin-sizedplunger extending through a hollow slide with a socket-sized ferrule.Coil springs bias against travel of the slide between extended andretracted positions with respect to the plunger. The extended positionmay be locked by rotation of the slide to engage a bayonet pin within aretaining J-slot. Pin removal is by reception of a pin in the ferrule atthe extended position and pushing outward against the pin shoulder.Socket removal is by release of the extended position and insertion ofthe plunger for pushing at the bottom of the socket, the ferruleretracting along the plunger and providing protection and compressivebracing thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to contactremoval tools, and with more particularity, to a combination tool forremoval of both pin and socket contacts.

Multiple pin and socket contacts have been provided in some of theindividual electrical connectors presently available. For example, asmany as 85 contacts have been provided in a single connector having aone inch diameter. As may be visualized, the pin and socket contacts areclosely spaced in a dense concentration. Now it is often desirable toremove and replace selected individual contacts. Thus, the connectorsare provided with contact retention devices to facilitate removal andreplacement, for example, as disclosed in Pat. No. 3,477,061 issued onNov. 4, 1969 to C. D. Stephenson. There, removal of the pin and socketcontacts is accomplished by simply pushing the contacts back through theresilient retention device. It may be appreciated, of course, that anarrow tool is required because of the close spacing of the contacts.

The pin and socket contacts are themselves quite tiny and it isdesirable to be able to remove them without damage. The most feasibletool for damage-free removal of the socket contacts has been found to bea slender plunger which may be inserted into the socket to push againstthe bottom thereof. Likewise, damage-free removal of pin contacts may beaccomplished by a narrow ferrule which receives the pin to push againstthe pin shoulders. Separate individual tools, a plunger for the socketand a ferrule for the pin, have been utilized in the past.

Unfortunately, the required narrowness and length of the tools makesthem highly susceptible to damage. It may be appreciated that theplunger utilized in socket removal is often no more than a stiff wire,which is readily bent and damaged. Furthermore, it is often a nuisanceto have to change from one tool to another, since this requires thetechnician to take his eye off the relative positions of a pin vis-a-visa socket both of which are desired to be removed. It may be appreciated,that with a multiplicity of densely packed contacts, relocation of theparticular contact after a tool change may be time consuming.

Therefore, to overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of the priorart, a new and improved pin and socket removal tool is required. Thepresent invention envisions a combination tool which may be utilized forthe removal of both pins and sockets. In accordance with the presentinvention, a tool is provided by a hollow tubular body, adapted to beheld manually, with slide and plunger members extending therefrom. Theplunger is bottomed in the body and extends through an axial borethrough the slide. Coil springs Within the tubular body bias againsttravel of the slide between extended and retracted positions. The slideis locked at an extended position with a ferrule portion thereof beyondthe plunger by rotation of the slide and its bayonet pin into atransverse J-slot in the body. A pin contact may then be received withinthe ferrule for removal by pushing against the pin shoulders. Theplunger within the axial bore provides compressive bracing for the slideand ferrule. Release of the bayonet pin from the J-slot will allow aretraction of the slide against the coil spring bias for insertion ofthe plunger into a socket. Removal is by pushing against the bottom ofthe socket with the plunger, the ferrule and slide providing protectionand compressive bracing therefore.

Thus, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a pin andsocket removal tool.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combination tool whichmay be utilized in removal of both pin and socket contacts.

Another object is to provide a tool capable of contact removal withoutdamage to the contacts or contact retention device, and withoutdisturbance of neighboring contacts.

Still another object is to provide a combination tool having one memberfor removal of sockets and another member for removal of pins, whereineach member compressively braces the other during contact removal.

Also, an object of this invention is a pin and socket removal tool whichmay be readily assembled and disassembled to facilitate replacement ofvarious members therein.

Yet another object is the provision of a sturdy, simple hand tool whichis versatile for removal of both pins and sockets.

An object of this invention is to provide a combination pin and socketremoval tool wherein the socket removal member is protected at alltimes.

Furthermore, it is an object to provide a pin and socket removal toolcomprised of members which are readily assembled and susceptible toeconomical mass production manufacturing techniques.

Further and other objects, and a more complete understanding of theinvention may be had by referring to the following description andclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of illustrating theinvention, there are shown in the drawings a form which is presentlypreferred, it being understood, however, that this invention is notnecessarily limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentality thereshown.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pin and socket removal tool according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the pin and socket removal tool shown inFIG. 1, with a protective cap removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of the tool shown in FIG. 2, with a handlecovering thereof removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating pin removal by the tool of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and broken sectional view of the tool shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and broken section of the tool shown in FIG. 3illustrating the relative disposition of parts during the removal of asocket contact.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged and broken section of a part of the tool shown inFIG. 3 illustrating the relative disposition of parts during removal ofa pin contact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail, where like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1 an illustration of a pin and socket removal tool according to thepresent invention indicated generally by the numeral 10. A protectivehandle covering 15 and a protective cap '18 are provided of a materialsuch as plastic which may be readily shaped into a compact andattractive configuration, as shown. The cap 18 is readily removable, asindicated in FIG. 2, and the handle covering 15 may include an inner end17 shaped for mating reception of cap 18 and gripping areas 19 so thatthe tool may be securely held.

The body member 20, shown in FIG. 3, has an interior portion 21 whichmay be cylindrically shaped and of a diameter for a tight force -fitwithin the handle covering 15. An exterior portion 22 of body member 20extends without the handle covering and is visible in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the exterior portion 22 may be enlarged with respectto the interior portion 21 to provide a ledge 23 which abuts against theinner end 17 of the handle covering :15. The external portion 22 may bechamfered as at 24 to provide a neat appearance and to assist in seatingof the protective cap 18 on the inner end 17 of handle covering 15.

Reference is now made to the cross-section of FIG. 5 for a descriptionof the interior of body member and associated parts. As shown, the bodymember 20 has an interior chamber 25 which may be a hollow cylinder. The

chamber 25 is open at one end through aperture 26 in a retention collar27 formed integrally, by machining or the like, within external portion22. The opposite end of chamber 25 is closed by removable plug 28. Atransverse pin 29 extends, as shown, through aligned openings in thebody 20 and plug 28 for retention of the body member 20 and plug 28together. The removable plug 28 includes an integral holder sleeveportion '30 of a reduced diameter with respect to the chamber 25. Asshown by the cross-section of FIG. 5 the holder sleeve 30 projectsinwardly into the chamber and has a bore 31 open to the chamber 25. Bore31 terminates at a bottom 32 where the sleeve 30 is solid.

As shown best in FIG. 3 the body 20 has an elongated slot '33 extendinglongitudinally of the body interior portion 21. The forward end of theslot 33, towards the exterior body portion 22, is joined by a J-slot 34which is transversely disposed with respect to the body member 20, asshown. Note that the slots 33, 34, extend through the wall of theinterior portion 21 to the interior cavity 25, as shown by thecross-sections of FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, the body member 20 and itsassociated plug member 28 and retention pin 29 are machined of a durablemetal, such as steel.

A slide member 40 is received within the chamber 25 for longitudinaltravel therein, and thushas a transverse size corresponding to that ofthe chamber 25, as may be best visualized with reference to FIGS. 5through 7. A spring guide surface 41 and bearing surface 42 may beprovided at the interior of the slide member 40* by boring one endthereof as shown. The opposite end of the slide member 40 has a reducedportion 44 of a size which may be slidably received in the aperture 26through retention collar 27. Reduced portion 44 extends without the bodymember 20 as shown in the fignires. Slide member 40 presents a bearingledge 45 opposite the retention collar 27, at the point of reduction tothe reduced portion 44. The reduced portion 44 is further reduced at itsoutermost tip to provide a ferrule portion 46. The length and insidediameter of the ferrule portion 46 are chosen in accordance with thesize of pin contacts which are to be removed, as will be come apparentin the following description. An axial bore 47 runs the length of theslide member 40 to the chamber 25. The axial'bore '47 may include acountersink 48 within the reduced portion 44, as shown. A knurledsurface 49, which is shown in FIG. 3, is provided for gripping of thereduced portion 44.

A long and slender plunger 60 is received within the bore 47, andextends through countersink 48 and chamber 25 of the slide member 40.Since the plunger member 60 is to be received within somewhat tinysocket contacts which are to be removed, a slender and stiif wire hasbeen found ideal, for example 11 gauge nickel plated music wire (0.1).0.026"). The plunger member 60 has a squared bearing tip 61 whichengages bottom 32 of the holder sleeve 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Aresilient insert 65, of nylon or other resilient material, is providedwithin the bore 31 of the holder sleeve 30 to securely hold plungermember 60, yet allowing removal and replacement thereof.

Lock means for holding the plunger member 40 in an extended positionwith respect to the plunger member 60 may be provided by a bayonet pin70 extending radially from the slide member 40 for engagement within theelongated slot 33 and J-slot 34. The bayonet pin 70 may extend from aradial bore 72 in the slide member 40. Naturally, the bayonet pin 70 issized and shaped to slide freely along the elongated slot 33 and J-slot34 to allow the slide member 40 to travel between retracted and extendedpositions with respect to the plunger member 60.

A first bias means urging the slide member 40 toward an extendedposition with the ferrule portion 46 extending beyond the tip 62 ofplunger member 60, is provided by the coil spring which is compressedbetween the bearing surface 42 of slide member 40 and the end plug 28.Note that the diameter of the coil spring 80 is sufficient to receivethe holder sleeve 30 therein, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6. On theother hand, the outside diameter of spring 80 is less than that of thespring guide surface 41 for reception therein within the slide member40.

A second bias means is provided to urge the slide, against the bias ofcoil spring 80, toward a retracted position exposing the tip 62 of theplunger member 60. Coil spring provides the second bias means bycompression thereof between the retention collar 27 of the body member40 and the ledge 45 of the slide member 40. The inside diameter of coilspring 85 is sufiicient to receive the reduced portion 44 of slidemember 40 and is less than the inside diameter of the interior cavity 25of body member 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the length and thestrength of the coil springs 80, 85 are chosen to balance with the slidemember 40 in a position exposing a short length of the tip 62 of theplunger member 60.

Pin and socket contact removal from an electrical connector, such asthat illustrated in FIG. 4, is easily accomplished by use of the removaltool 10 of the present invention. Socket contact removal is illustratedin detail by the cross-section of FIG. 6 and reference is directedthereto. There a socket contact is to be removed from a female portionof an electrical connector having a contact retention device provided bythe dielectric member and the separable dielectric member 96 with theresilient retaining collar 97. The contact retention device may be ofthe type described in Pat. No. 3,477,061 issued on Nov. 4, 1969 to C. D.Stephenson, and reference is made thereto for a complete description ofa typical contact retention device. In essence, separation of the member96 from member 95 removes the resilient retention collar 97 from therestraint of member 95; allowing the collar 97 to expand for removal ofthe contact 90. The tip 62 of the plunger member 60 is inserted into thesocket 90 to the bottom thereof and then simply manually pushedoutwardly, to the left as viewed in FIG. 6, while the tool is grasped athandle cover 15. The ferrule portion 46 bears against the socket 90forcing the slide member 40 to a retracted position within the bodymember against the bias of spring 80. The guide surface 41 of member 40and projecting holder sleeve assures an even axial compression of thespring 80. Note that the slender plunger member 60 is surrounded eitherby the socket member 90 or the ferrule portion 46 throughout the removaloperation. This assures protection of the delicate plunger member 60 andprovides additional compressive strength therefore. The ferrule portion46 may have an outside diameter approximating that of the socket contact90 to follow the socket contact 90 and plunger member 60 through thedielectric member 95 for complete removal of the socket contact 90.After disengagement of the tool from the socket contact 90, the bias ofspring 80 will return the slide member 40 and ferrule 46 to a protectiveposition with respect to the plunger member 60.

Pin contact removal is described with reference to the FIG. 7. The slidemember must first be slid forward to an extended position determined bythe J-slot 34 with the ferrule portion 46 beyond the tip 62 of theplunger member 60. Preferably, this may be accomplised by grasping thereduced portion 44 at the knurled surface 49. As the slide member 40slides forward, the bayonet pin 70 travels along the elongated slot 33until reaching the juncture with the J-slot 34. Then the slide member 40is rotated to bring the bayonet pin 70 within the J-slot 34, as shown inFIG. 7. The resulting extended position is locked by engagement of pin70 within J- slot 34 against the bias of coil spring 85 which has beencompressed between the retention collar 27 of body member 20 and theledge 45 of slide member 40. The reduced portion 44 within the coilspring 85 provides a guideway assuring that the coil spring 85 isaxially and evenly compressed. The dimensions of the I-slot 34 and thelength of the elongated slot 33 are chosen to provide an extendedposition of the fermle 46 at a sufficient distance beyond the tip 62 ofthe plunger member 60 for reception of a pin contact 98 so than an endof the ferrule portion 46 bears against the shoulder 99 of the contact.Again, removal is by simply pushing inward (to the left in FIG. 7) andthrough the dielectric member 100, which has a contact retention device(not shown) as previously described.

The plunger member 60 may be readily replaced upon becoming bent ordamaged by utilization of a pliers or similar hand tool to forcefullypull it outward from its force fit within the insert 65 and the holdersleeve 30. A new plunger member 60 may be inserted by simply forcing itinward into the insert 65. Assembly and disassembly of the entire tool10 may be accomplished by forcefully removing the body member 20 fromwithin the handle cover 15. Then the roll pin 29 and bayonet pin 70 maybe removed and the plug member 28, slide member 40, plunger member 60and coil springs 80, 85, may be removed by sliding outward to the rear,to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. Assembly, of course, is exactly thereverse. In this manner the tool 10, according to the present invention,may be readily assembled and disassembled for replacement of worn 'anddamaged parts,

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as followed in the true spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool for pin and socket removal, comprising in combination:

a hollow tubular body member adapted to be held manually, said bodyhaving an interior chamber with an open end and a closed end;

a slide member in said chamber for travel between an extended positionand a retracted position, said slide extending through said open end andincluding a ferrule portion beyond said body, said slide and ferrulehaving an axial bore therethrough;

and a slender plunger member in said bore and bottomed on said closedend, said plunger extending to a tip beyond said body for insertion intoa socket and removal thereof by pushing, said retracted position of saidslide allowing said tip to engage the bottom of said socket while saidferrule protects and braces said plunger, and said extended position ofsaid slide presenting said ferrule beyond said tip for reception of apin within said ferrule and removal thereof by pushing against ashoulder of said pin.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the outside diameters of saidplunger and ferrule correspond to those of a pin and socket,respectively.

3. A tool according to claim 1 including lock means for holding saidslide at said extended position.

4. A tool according to claim 3 including a first bias means urging saidslide toward said extended position and a second bias means urging saidslide toward said retracted position, said lock means holding said slideat said extended position against the urging of said second bias means,and said retracted position being accomplished by release of said lockmeans to allow a socket to force said ferrule inward along said plungeragainst the urging of said first bias means.

5. A tool according to claim 4 wherein the said body includes aretention collar at said open end to captivate said slide within saidcavity, and wherein said first and second bias means are provided bycoil springs between said closed end, slide, and retention collar,respectively.

6. A tool according to claim 5 wherein said body has an elongatedlongitudinal slot with an intersecting J-slot transverse thereto, andsaid slide has a bayonet pin extending radially therefrom for engagementwithin said elongated slot and J-slot, said bayonet pin sliding alongsaid longitudinal slot as said slide travels between said retractedposition and extended position, said J-slot and bayonet pin providingsaid lock means by rotation of said slide for engagement therebetween.

7. A tool according to claim 6 wherein the said slide includes a reducedportion extending through said collar to said ferrule, said reducedportion having a knurled surface for manually gripping and rotating saidslide.

8. A tool according to claim 7 wherein said closed end of said body is aremovable plug to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the said tool.

9. A tool according to claim 8 wherein said plug includes a holdersleeve projecting into said cavity, said holder sleeve including a nyloninsert, and said plunger having a force-fitted reception thereinaffording ready replacement thereof, and said holder sleeve being of adiameter smaller than said coil spring of said first biasing means forreception therein to provide guidance upon compression thereof.

10. A tool according to claim 9 wherein said body includes a handlecover thereover, said cover having a tightfit thereon, yet, beingremovable for assembly and disassembly of said tool.

11. A tool useful in removing both sockets and pins from the socket andpin support passages of an electrical connector, said tool comprising:

an elongated plunger member having one extremity of a first portionthereof dimensioned to fit within a socket of a given electricalconnector;

a tubular member surrounding said pin at said one extremity in closesliding relationship thereto, the internal bore of said tubular memberbeing dimensioned to freely accept a pin of said given electricalconnector with said tubular member having external dimensions permittingat least a first portion thereof which is most closely associated withsaid one extremity of said pin to pass into the support passages of saidgiven electrical connector;

a manually manipulatable handle structure supporting said plunger andtubular members in movable relationship to one another;

means for selectively restraining said plunger and tubular members frommotion relative to one another when the longitudinal extremity of thefirst portion of said tubular member closest to said one extremity ofsaid plunger extends beyond said one extremity of said plunger wherebysaid tool is usefulin removing pins from said given electrical connector when the relative motion between said member is restrained anduseful in removing socket members from said given electrical connectorwhen said relative motion is unrestrained.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said handle structureincludes spring biasing means coupled between said tubular member andsaid plunger member to maintain said longitudinal extremity of saidtubular member yieldably displaced from said one extremity of saidplunger with the plunger passing through the entirety of the tubularbore at said longitudinal extremity thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,093 11/1963 Johnson 29-203H THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner

